Virtual Program | kerfuffletvy

Bookworms Virtual Program

Cast

Storyteller: Michael-Ellen Walden

Musician: Yongwoo Park

Bookworm: Josh Bernaski

Bookworm: Shea Lee

Understudy: Serena Collins

Production Team

Written by: Jeff Sachs

Director: Jamie Macpherson

Stage Manager: Miranda Taylor

Scenic & Properties Designer: Amy Gilman

Costume Designer: Jade Zhang

Puppet Designer: Rich Goss

Poster Art by Kelly Joyce Fielder

Michael-Ellen (Mikey) Walden (they/he) - Storyteller

Mikey is an actor, writer, musician, and teaching artist. He is passionate about new work, imaginative theatre, and creating art for and with young people. They grew up in Paducah, KY and graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in Theatre and Gender Studies. Outside of theatre, you might find him dancing with toddlers, cooking dinner for his friends, or singing country classics at karaoke.

Yongwoo Park (he/him) - Musician

Yongwoo is a Korean-American actor, martial artist, musician, educator, and filmmaker originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Equally passionate about all those things, he has taught preschool, writes songs for kids and not-kids alike, and competes across the country in full contact karate and kickboxing. Theatre credits include The Chinese Lady (Studio Theatre TDS), That's Weird, Grandma! (Playmakers Laboratory), and You For Me For You (Sideshow Theatre). TV credits include Chicago PD and Detroit 1-8-7. Represented by Lily's Talent. Website: TheYongwoo.com

Josh Bernaski (he/him) - Puppeteer

Josh is thrilled to perform with Kerfuffle for the first time! Recently, Josh bounced across the country puppeteering Tigger and Eeyore in Disney's Winnie the Pooh. In Chicago, he's worked with Paramount, Manual Cinema, Lifeline, Shakespeare Project, Drury Lane and others. Josh is also the founder of The Connecting Routes Project, which has collaborated with Kerfuffle in creating and touring The Conductors since 2020. www.joshbernaski.com

Shea Lee (she/her) - Puppeteer

Shea is delighted to be working with Kerfuffle again, where she was previously seen in The Conductors and Goose and Gert. Other favorite credits include StarDog (independent project), Extra Yarn and Cat’s Cradle (both at Lifeline Theatre). Shea is an alumna of Northwestern University, where her focuses included musical theatre, theatre for young audiences, and Asian American studies. She is also an ensemble member of Laughing Stock Theatre, Chicago's premiere Commedia dell'Arte theatre company. In her spare time, Shea plays Dungeons & Dragons and (wouldn’t you know it?) is an avid bookworm.

Serena Collins (she/her) - Understudy

Serena is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist in Chicago. Locally, she appeared in An Enemy of the People (Sub Rosa), taught and directed at the Cherubs program (Northwestern University), and her play, Sympathizer, was performed (Sandbox Theatre). Regionally, she assistant directed the world premiere of A Distinct Society (Pioneer Theatre Company, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley) and Sanctuary City (Cincinnati Playhouse). Serena is currently in the Ark Adventures ensemble (K'ilu Company), a 2024 Protégé Program participant (Shattered Globe), and an Alexander Technique teacher trainee (ATTIC). BFA University of Utah. Serenacollins.com. Thanks to her partner and parents for their unending support.

Amy C. Gilman (she/her) - Scenic and Properties Designer

This is Amy's first time working with Kerfuffle. Amy is an freelance Exhibit Designer, specializing in designing museum exhibits and environments for children for clients including Richmond Children's Museum, Magic Discovery Center, American Girl, and others. Her theater work includes working as props artesian at the Goodman and designing for other theaters in Chicago including Filament Theatre, Stage Left, Theatre Seven, Prologue Theatre, Factory Theatre and others.

Jade Zhang (she/her) - Costume Designer

Jade is a North Carolina based costume designer. She received her MFA in Costume Design from the University of Florida, and currently serves as a faculty member in the Department of English, Theater and World Languages at University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Past selective credits: Over the River and Through the Woods (Tibbits Opera); Sweeney Todd (Tibbits Opera); Intimate Apparel (Asolo Rep); the Prom (University of Florida); La Mar (Y no Habia Luz); Lend me a Tenor (Timberlake Playhouse); Legally Blonde (Timberlake Playhouse); Rhinoceros (University of Florida); Working Joe (University of Florida) … Design website: https://www.jadezhangcostumedesign.com

Rich Goss (he/him) - Puppet Designer

Rich has been a puppeteer and maker his whole life. His puppets have been seen in "Let me Hear You Whisper", "The Lion King jr.", "She kills Monsters" and "A Christmas Carol". Rich is the owner/director of SilverWolf Productions providing scenic needs and more across the country, bringing his skills to the theater community for 34 years. When not in a theater or making puppets, Rich can be found working on his living art project "The Dread Pirate Ship SeaWolf" as the pirate Captain Lucan S. Wolfe.

Jamie Macpherson (she/her) - Director

Jamie is a Chicago-based director who specializes in theater for young audiences. She has been an invited artist at Macalester College, Augsburg College, and the Lawrence Art Center. Recent credits include: Treasure Island (Mudlark Theater), Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (First Act, Madison), Marian: the True Tale of Robin Hood (Stevenson). Her work has been published in Youth Theater Journal, Howlround, and The Fight Master. Jamie holds an MFA in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University, and spends her days as a preschool teacher at Stepping Stones Nursery School. Check out more about her work at jamiemacpherson.com.

MT Taylor (she/they) - Stage Manager

MT (she/they) is thrilled to be making her Kerfuffle debut, stage managing this fantastic team! They are a type one diabetic theatre artist; stage managing, production managing, teaching, acting and directing in the Chicago area. Most recently, she has partnered with Probascis Theatre and worked on Problem Play. She works diligently to create inclusive spaces and foster athletes of empathy. Thank you to the cast and creative team for this beautiful and delightful journey. #insulin for all @miranda_j_taylor

Jeff Sachs (he/him) - Playwright

Jeff is a theatre artist and arts administrator in Chicago. He has worked artistically with Kerfuffle as the scenic designer for the Chicago premiere of Goose and Gert, the production designer for wonderwander and the set designer for The Caterpillar's Footprint. Originally from Long Island, Sachs has worked as a teaching artist in Illinois, Kentucky, and Arizona. He has his bachelor's in Theatre from Northwestern University and his Master of Fine Arts in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Business Administration from DePaul University.